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"Preparing to Copy" hanging when trying to consolidate iTunes! Help! D:

iParis

iParis

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jul 29, 2008
3,671
31
New Mexico
I have my iTunes setup to where every now and then I consolidate my library to my external hard drive then I delete the file from it's original location. For some reason "Preparing to Copy" starts, then it just hangs and moves very slowly, so slow that I know it's not because of the amount of files. I've tried looking online elsewhere for help and have tried verifying, repairing, etc, disk permissions on both my internal and external hard drive and it didn't help. The only thing out of the ordinary I got was
Warning: SUID file “System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/ARDAgent” has been modified and will not be repaired.
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It would sometimes do this in the past and all I had to do was restart my computer or remount the external hard drive, but that doesn't appear to be the case this time. Any help at all would be gladly appreciated! Thank you!
 
iParis said:
I've tried looking online elsewhere for help and have tried verifying, repairing, etc, disk permissions on both my internal and external hard drive and it didn't help. The only thing out of the ordinary I got was It would sometimes do this in the past and all I had to do was restart my computer or remount the external hard drive, but that doesn't appear to be the case this time. Any help at all would be gladly appreciated! Thank you!
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If repairing permissions results in error messages, some of these messages can be ignored and should be no cause for concern.
Some people repair, or recommend repairing permissions for situations where it isn't appropriate. Repairing permissions only addresses very specific issues. It is not a "cure all" or a general performance enhancer, and doesn't need to be done on a regular basis. It also doesn't address permissions problems with your files or 3rd party apps.

Disk Utility repairs the permissions for files installed by the Mac OS X Installer, Software Update, or an Apple software installer. It doesn’t repair permissions for your documents, your home folder, and third-party applications.

You can verify or repair permissions only on a disk with Mac OS X installed.
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Does Disk Utility check permissions on all files?

Files that aren't installed as part of an Apple-originated installer package are not listed in a receipt and therefore are not checked. For example, if you install an application using a non-Apple installer application, or by copying it from a disk image, network volume, or other disk instead of installing it via Installer, a receipt file isn't created. This is expected. Some applications are designed to be installed in one of those ways.

Also, certain files whose permissions can be changed during normal usage without affecting their function are intentionally not checked.
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GGJstudios said:
If repairing permissions results in error messages, some of these messages can be ignored and should be no cause for concern.
Some people repair, or recommend repairing permissions for situations where it isn't appropriate. Repairing permissions only addresses very specific issues. It is not a "cure all" or a general performance enhancer, and doesn't need to be done on a regular basis. It also doesn't address permissions problems with your files or 3rd party apps.




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Thanks for that. I had assumed the message given didn't really mean too much. Though I'm still in the same spot. :\
 
GGJstudios said:
Why are you consolidating every now and then? Why not put your music files where you want them, to begin with? One method is to have one iTunes library, with your favorite music stored on your internal drive, with the remainder stored on an external drive.

How to split a single iTunes library over two or more media locations
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Just when I feel I want to free up space or clean my computer or sometimes I consolidate right after downloading a bunch of music. I have a massive, massive, library and prefer to keep everything in one spot. When I download music via my web browser it goes to the Downloads folder and other places depending on where what program I downloaded them from. I'd prefer to not have to go in and move each song/album/discography to it's correct location in my iTunes folder on the external HD. If I'm going to view it all in iTunes I see no reason to have iTunes set to look for the music in two different locations, favorites or not.
 
iParis said:
Just when I feel I want to free up space or clean my computer or sometimes I consolidate right after downloading a bunch of music. I have a massive, massive, library and prefer to keep everything in one spot. When I download music via my web browser it goes to the Downloads folder and other places depending on where what program I downloaded them from. I'd prefer to not have to go in and move each song/album/discography to it's correct location in my iTunes folder on the external HD. If I'm going to view it all in iTunes I see no reason to have iTunes set to look for the music in two different locations, favorites or not.
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If you have the following boxes checked in iTunes > Preferences > Advanced, you can add new music to your library from any location, then delete the originals immediately after importing, as iTunes makes its own copy in your iTunes Media folder.

attachment.php
 
GGJstudios said:
If you have the following boxes checked in iTunes > Preferences > Advanced, you can add new music to your library from any location, then delete the originals immediately after importing, as iTunes makes its own copy in your iTunes Media folder.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

Eh, I think I just liked copying them at huge amounts at time because in the past I may or may not have had room on my external or it may have unknowingly ejected, causing the files to copy the default iTunes location. Though in hindsight I now realize that if I had checked that box that I wouldn't have my current problem. >_<

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I'm trying to delete the most recent songs added to see if there was some sort of corruption, but I don't think it's going to help. :|
 
Last edited:
O__o So I deleted everything since last consolidating my library, which turned out be less than 100 songs. Then I tried adding something and it didn't work, but it wasn't the song that was the problem. Then I checked the copy to location box and added the same song again and it copied just fine. Just for the heck of it I had it consolidate, but since there was nothing it should have quickly stopped, but "preparing to copy" still hung for a bit, though it did stop within a minute or so. Whatever I add results in "preparing to copy" endlessly hanging. I guess I'll leave it overnight and if it doesn't work I'll stick to having iTunes copy it to the location upon being added.

EDIT: Holy mother tit****! :D It started working after enough waiting, to my surprise! I guess now I'll consolidate after every album until I figure out which one gave me this headache.
 
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